EPFO CIRCULAR SHOULD NOT TAKE AWAY EXISTING BENEFITS

Press Release

31st May 2014

It is reported in the media, that a circular has been issued by EPFO, stating that employers paying Provident Contributions to their employees can limit their contributions to the salary limit of Rs.6500 per month. It is reported that the clarification is on the basis of a Supreme Court judgment in 2011. What prompted the EPFO to issue a circular now after such a long time is not known. CITU demands that this should no way result in curtailing the existing benefits in the matter of PF contribution of employer which the employees in various private and public sector enterprises are now getting. In this context, CITU wants to point out that the Govt. has not yet implemented the decision of CBT to increase the salary limit to Rs.15,000 per month for PF contribution which was to be implemented from 1st April 2014. The decision to increase the wage ceiling and and also to increase the minimum pension to Rs.1000 per month was unanimously taken by Central Board of Trustees and approved by Cabinet in February 2014. CITU while demanding immediate implementation of increased ceiling and minimum pension of Rs.1000, also demands that the circular of EPFO should not lead to curtailment of existing benefits to any worker.